Azor Ahai, Flaming Heart

So, look, in high school, which was a long time ago, I was not invited to a party. Who needs underage drinking when you have an evil ghost pirate to put down? My dad, however, thought perhaps I should give Guybrush a night off and handed me a copy of a fantasy book he'd bought, but not yet started. It was, big surprise coming, the first book in A Song of Ice and Fire -- A GAME OF THRONES.

I, as anyone else who has read the books probably did, devoured it.

Throughout the first book I found myself most interested in Stannis Baratheon. It wasn't that he was even in the books, or mentioned that much, but when he was: I wanted to know more. In a series populated with intriguing, complex characters, the first one who stood out to me was Stannis. I could now digress into paragraphs upon paragraphs about why, but that's hardly the point of this. Either way, as the books progressed Stannis, and the entire Baratheon family, solidified themselves as my protagonists, as my favourites. In short, yo, fuck yo' dragons, Daenerys.

When it came time to write my about me for this years secret santa the first thing I told my secret santa was "I'm well into A Song of Ice and Fire, and I'm a stan for Stannis and House Baratheon" (I also referenced Eminem, as one obviously does). Though my package arrived late, not at all the fault of my secret santa (Estonian Post I am almost positive is one of my morta enemies), I am incredibly happy to share what I received: A House Baratheon GOBLET mug. Seriously, it's about as big as my chest.

I didn't open the package until we sat down for lunch, but after retrieving it from the post office, I was crazy giddy. I knew it came from a toy shop, so I thought it might be a board game, maybe a card game since it was medium sized. Walking through Tallinn, I was positing theories with my boyfriend, and when I finally opened it: I squealed. I did not expect the gift I got and I loved it, immediately. Without exchanging a single message with my secret santa, they knew me: instinctively and perfectly.

Unfortunately, the lady serving us refused to put my mulled wine in the mug, so it had to wait until we were home. A mug of apple tea later and I was the happiest girl in the world. With the third series of the show soon to start, I've got my very own drinking mug throughout each episode, which I can smugly lord over my boyfriend: a Stark fan. Sure, a book was tentatively called a Time for Wolves, but here's to a Drink for Stags!

Thanks so much Secret Santa, you're a class act, a total dime, a thoughtful person, and a real human bean!